Tag Archives: Putin

When the Obama administration’s former top man in Moscow told Defense News that Russian leaders should apologize for the shootdown of an airliner in Ukraine, he was greeted with charges of hypocrisy. In a Twitter exchange late Tuesday evening, your correspondent asked Michael McFaul just what the “accountability” of Russian leaders he was calling for…

To borrow one of President Obama’s favorite phrases, let me be clear: The United States government will not be sending offensive, or lethal, military equipment to Ukraine to assist in its standoff with Russia. That much became crystal clear on Tuesday.

Rep. Mike Turner says the Ukrainian government has asked the Obama administration to give its military weapons in its standoff with Russian forces. And the expected candidate to take the House Armed Services Committee gavel is demanding the White House explain a few things.

Part of the tightrope the Obama White House and Pentagon are trying to walk on the Russia-Ukraine standoff is how to flex some American military muscles without flexing the ones that might set off Vladimir Putin. On Tuesday, US officials tried a little digital deterrence.

How long does Russian President Vladimir Putin intend to keep tens of thousands of military troops inside Crimea or camped out along his country’s border with Ukraine? A long time, according to a senior US lawmaker who says the Bear is hunkering down.

ANALYSIS A bill that would require an increased US military footprint in Europe could put Senate Democrats and the Obama White House in a tough spot because such measures allow Republican incumbents and candidates to sound a tougher-on-Russia tone than loyal-to-Obama Democrats.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been chesty since invading, occupying and annexing Crimea. In fact, he has portrayed himself as protecting ethnic Russians and standing up to the West. But his American partner-turned-rival says Putin shouldn’t be as confident as he appears.

Cyber strikes. Sophisticated sanctions. In an ever-more technologically and economically connected world, the US national security apparatus increasingly talks about and employs these “new” tools of conflict. But will either work against an adversary/irritant who still moves his forces via freight rail? One influential Washington think tank says no.

Congressional GOP hawks agree on one thing: To them, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade the southern-most part of Ukraine is US President Barack Obama’s fault. They also agree the US should send Putin a message. But a Senate measure intended to do just that is pitting hawk vs. hawk.